Abstract: A filter media is provided. The filter media includes a porous membrane material, and at least one fiber stitched into the porous membrane material. A property of the filter media is selected as a function of a stitch configuration of the at least one fiber in the filter media.

Abstract: An air filter assembly includes a felt of hollow specialty polymer fibers having nonporous walls.

Abstract: An air filter assembly includes a felt of hollow commodity polymer fibers having nonporous walls.

Abstract: A high efficiency method of producing a high quality knit fabricis diclosed. The method includes the steps of drafting a blended sliver of cotton fibers and polyester fibers in a four roll draffing zone in which the nip to nip spacing in the break zone is no more than 2.5 mm longer than the effective fiber length of the polyester fibers, and no more than 1.5 mm greater than the effective fiber length in the intermediate zone, and at least 7 mm greater than the effective fiber length in the front zone, thereafter spinning the drafted sliver into yarn at a take up speed of greater than 150 meters per minute, and thereafter knitting the spun yarn into fabric.

Abstract: A spinning apparatus is disclosed according to the invention having a drafting zone comprising at least four roll pairs for drawing a sliver comprising one or more types of staple fibers. The rolls pairs include a back roll pair, intermediate roll pairs and a front roll pair and the distance between the nip of the back roll pair and the nip of the adjacent intermediate roll pair, and the distances between the nips of adjacent intermediate roll pairs is no more than the effective fiber length of the longest staple fiber type in the sliver. The drafted sliver may be spun into yarns at high speeds, such as the speeds used in air jet spinning apparatus to provide yarns having increased strength and reduced defects. The present invention also includes a method of forming high quality and high uniformity yarns by advancing a sliver through a drafting apparatus and thereafter spinning the sliver into yarn.

Abstract: A drafting and spinning apparatus is disclosed that produces highly uniform yarns with improved mechanical properties. The apparatus comprises a plurality of pairs of drafting rolls for drawing a sliver formed of one or more types of staple fibers, each fiber type having a predetermined effective fiber length. The plurality of pairs of drafting rolls comprises at least two pairs of intermediate rolls, with the distances between the nips of adjacent intermediate roll pairs being no more than the effective fiber length of the longest fiber type in the sliver. The apparatus further includes device for spinning the sliver into yarn at a take-up speed of greater than 150 meters/minute.

Abstract: A spinning apparatus is disclosed according to the invention having a drafting zone comprising at least four roll pairs for drawing a sliver comprising one or more types of staple fibers. The rolls pairs include a back roll pair, intermediate roil pairs and a front roll pair and the distance between the nip of the back roll pair and the nip of the adjacent intermediate roll pair, and the distances between the nips of adjacent intermediate roll pairs is no more than the effective fiber length of the longest staple fiber type in the sliver. The drafted sliver may be spun into yarns at high speeds, such as the speeds used in air jet spinning apparatus to provide yarns having increased strength and reduced defects. The present invention also includes a method of forming high quality and high uniformity yarns by advancing a sliver through a drafting apparatus and thereafter spinning the sliver into yarn.

Abstract: A spinning apparatus is disclosed according to the invention having a drafting zone comprising at least four roll pairs for drawing a sliver comprising one or more types of staple fibers. The rolls pairs include a back roll pair, intermediate roll pairs and a front roll pair and the distance between the nip of the back roll pair and the nip of the adjacent intermediate roll pair, and the distances between the nips of adjacent intermediate roll pairs is no more than the effective fiber length of the longest staple fiber type in the sliver. The drafted sliver may be spun into yarns at high speeds, such as the speeds used in air jet spinning apparatus to provide yarns having increased strength and reduced defects. The present invention also includes a method of forming high quality and high uniformity yarns by advancing a sliver through a drafting apparatus and thereafter spinning the sliver into yarn.